Freedom Of Speech. . . . . . Just How Far Does It Go For You ?. . . Ponder This !!?

Question

I recently asked if people thought that Opie and Anthony should be fired (check my profile, it's about the 3rd question down) . It turned into a Freedom of Speech issue for many, and that was never my intention . I should've clarified that I meant 'should the management and sponsors have a certain level of integrity, high enough to set the standard of what is or is not appropriate to promote' . As I got more and more answers, I began to notice something, especially the last answer I just got (I think it's answer #32, and it's the one starting out calling everyone who thinks they should be fired, idiots amongst a plethora of other insults .
It appears that some people want the ability to watch or listen to even the most raunchy, hateful, and disgusting material, no matter how extreme . No boundaries .
It also appears that others want common sense and integrity to be exemplified , not legislated, by the management and sponsors . I am one of those .

Where Do You Stand On The Issue ?

Think of it this way. . . . . If you were in charge of the management team of the Opie and Anthony Show , would you fire them ?

Answer 1

It's not a free speech issue.

Free speech is guaranteed to the people, to be free from *government* restrictions on thier speech.

If Opie and Anthony provide a product, and that product is their speech, and their employers pay them for that speech, then don't the employers have an absolute right to no longer pay them for that speech (i.e. fire them?).

And even if they were fired, have they lost their right to free speech? They can still say what they want to say...on a street corner.

Answer 2

I think firing should be reserved for the most offensive of speech. Meaning if someone violated standards of decency, etc. Having said that, it is my hope that individuals will not listen to some of the people who constantly spew racist comments, vulgarity, etc. I am by no means a prude but I do not want the airwaves taken over those who continue to be increasingly shocking in their antics to get ratings.

This is not a First Amendment issue. So long as there is no governmental action, there is no censorship involved. The founding fathers anticipated that citizens would use their intellect to select the best of the available media. The marketplace would weed out the wackos and those who did not conform to standards of common decency. That is the way the system is supposed to work and it is not censorship at all. I don't know why people cannot understand this.

Answer 3

The issues that were mingled and perplexed are freedom of speech and freedom of the click. Freedom of speech is a own suitable and contained in the starting up may be balanced by technique of the dimensions of the arm. Freedom of the click is the liberty to record the info factually. Society contraptions the point of tolerance at the same time as it includes freedom of speech.The confusion comes with legislations that protects speech that society as an finished do no longer approve of. This "speech" then could be listened to. this is a contravention of freedom of speech it truly is enforcement of a view aspect no longer shared by technique of maximum folk. the subsequent confusion is that freedom of the click potential you are able to submit some thing. that couldn't so. again legislations has compelled objectionable press to be common. It has also further about opinion and own speech to be secure because the click. once you legislate in an section the position the folk must have the say you end without loose speech and no loose press, purely a jumbled mess that corrupts each thing it touches.

Answer 4

Aahhh! Freedom of speech, What a wonderful concept. Do you remember legislation trying to get our church leader charged with hate speech because they preached against gays and lesbians, There is no way I will support anyone who wants to take that right away from them, But at the same time when you support that view, you must be willing to take the good with the bad, Opie and Anthony are disgusting human beings, but we can not silence them, if we do the ripple effect will be catastrophic, no one with a public platform will feel they have the freedom to speak, for fear of losing their job. this is not a road I'm willing to go down. Besides I like listening to O'rielley and Hannity to much, and rest assure the speech police will be breathing heavily down their necks. So If something is being said that offends someone they can change the channel or turn it off. To answer your question , sure management should take the high ground, but we are a capitalist country, and with that you must also take the good with the bad.

Answer 5

By not properly educating people today we run the risk of having a polarized nation that even by todays standards would make us all seem like one big happy family compared to the future .
If your argument is with the use of any language then you are missing the point .
It is your right to say whatever pops into your addled mind whenever you feel the need .
You are free to judge people by the use of such language and free to change the station should a lack of intelligence make itself apparent .

When we stop stupid people from speaking then how will we ever know who they are and who is dumb enough to listen to them .

The FBI , CIA ,ATF , local police all work to put people inside organizations of every kind just to make sure things do not get out of control .

I some times wonder if they mention they can get assault rifles and explosives when tempers flare at meetings and everyone is looking at each other now that the offer is on the table to provide the group the next step.

Not hard to go from talking about building a house to building one if someone hands you a hammer nails and lumber if you know what I mean . What was it 800 people in a jungle all drank the kool aide . you would think that was just a bunch of crazy people . All of us are a little more needy then one will admit and fitting in is so important for so many today .
Just look at the clothes you wear the car you drive the house you live in and what you are willing to say to people to collect a pay check .

How an Insurance agent can even try to sell property insurance in the Gulf coast states amazes me .

Or that shopping for the right engineering reports is even considered in a national crisis .
Its all about the Benjamin's for sure these days and a little harmless lie is nothing .
Not like people are gong to die because they do not get a check to cover their flooded out home cause they did not have flood insurance .
So the storm blew the house down and the water washed it away .
ANYHOW BACK TO my point .

We should be free from repercussions from free speech if it is our job to illicit listeners and viewers to tune in to our show .
It is entertainment .

Answer 6

I think that what is often overlooked in these discussions, is that the right of free speech, as with all other rights, carries responsibilities. Using Opie and Anthony as an example, They had the right to say what they did, but with that right, must be willing to accept the responsibility of their statements. The rights of no one should supersede the rights of others, therefore, if XM management chooses to terminate their employment, it is within their rights as well. I think that it's ironic that many of the same YA members who were demanding Imus be fired for his comments, defended Opie and Anthony saying it was a free speech right.

If it were left up to me, I believe they should have been terminated, and did everything within my power to facilitate that. I canceled my XM subscription, stating that I would only resubscribe if they were fired. It was my right to do so.

Answer 7

I really don't believe that this issue has as much to do with freedom of speech as is does with civility. We all know that freedom of speech does not allow you to yell FIRE in a crowded theater, but that doesn't mean that you can't say something mean an nasty about someone else as long as you're willing to bear the responsibility for the reaction to your words. I think that this whole "Howard Stern - Opie & Anthony - Don Imus" thing is rediculous. There's always going to be a bunch of bottom-feeders out there who think that these types of remarks are cute or funny but a vast majority of civilization doesn't. I say vote with your wallet. If you don't like the bovine excrement these people are producing, contact their advertisers and let them know that you'll be boycotting their products as long as they continue to support behavior like this.

Answer 8

First, let's back up the Education Boat, here. I was taught in Old South. We, down here in these parts. Learned that `Freedom of Speech". Meant freedom to speak your mind. With the understanding to respect others. Thereby respect yourself in your words. Insults are at a premium, today. In every walk of life. And it's all under this so-called, Freedom that brings our foundation, to it's lowest level possible. Freedom can also cause harm. And it's gotten way past that point here.

Answer 9

I don't think freedom of speech was ever intended to include the right to degrade other people. Freedom of speech as included in the constitution allows the right of individuals to speak up against the policies of the government and other authorities.
The idea that freedom of speech gives a person the right to be hateful or express otherwise perverted notions is wrong in my view. Under that logic, the right to bear arms gives you the right to shoot people. In other words, the constitution does not give you the right to harm others.

Answer 10

I draw the line at inciting the rape of 2 women as a form of entertainment. If they had talked about raping 2 trans-gender persons as a form of teaching them a lesson they would be charged with a hate crime. Because the 2 women that they were talking about liking to rape were Republican and both directly involved with the President of the US some how that made it O.K. Would I fire them if I was in charge? NO I would insist on them continuing there contractual obligation but only play dead air instead of their show. I would continue to pay them so that they could take their hate to another station and get airtime for it.